Prefabricated Panel House

Prefabricated panel houses are buildings constructed primarily using prefabricated panels and have specific characteristics, while also facing policy adjustments regarding renovation and demolition.

Basic Information about Prefabricated Panel Houses

Prefabricated panels are cement components manufactured in factories. During production, a wooden mold is first nailed together, followed by the placement of steel bars and the pouring of cement. These panels come in two types: solid and hollow. The hollow structure achieves lightweighting by reducing the non-load-bearing concrete. This building form originated in the early 20th century and was mainly used for floor slabs and roof insulation layers. In China, most residential buildings constructed before 1985 adopted this structure. During the 1970s and 1980s, many units allocated prefabricated panel houses to their employees, which were favored for their rapid construction speed.

Problems with Existing Prefabricated Panel Houses

Existing prefabricated panel houses generally have numerous issues. Weak earthquake resistance: In the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes, they struggle to effectively withstand vibrations, posing a threat to the safety of occupants. Poor sound and heat insulation: They are unable to effectively block external sounds and heat, affecting the comfort of living. Limited service life: Typically lasting about 30 to 50 years, as time passes, the building structure gradually ages, leading to various safety hazards.

Replacement and Development of Prefabricated Panel Houses

With the advancement of construction technology, cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated buildings are gradually replacing traditional prefabricated panel houses. Prefabricated buildings use modular factory-prefabricated components. For example, CMC (Composite Module Construction) buildings enhance earthquake resistance through integrated steel-concrete pouring, reducing the construction period by 30% compared to traditional methods and offering higher quality and efficiency.

Renovation and Demolition Policies for Prefabricated Panel Houses

Since 2022, China has implemented renovation policies, focusing on repairing and renovating prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing those that meet the criteria for dangerous buildings. The 2025 regulations specify that only three types of prefabricated panel houses will be demolished: those classified as severely dangerous (e.g., with foundation subsidence exceeding 5 cm, wall cracks wide enough to insert coins, or earthquake resistance below 70% of current standards), those obstructing planned developments (e.g., houses located on planned land for subways or schools), and houses over 25 years old where repair costs exceed demolition costs. The remaining 80% will still primarily undergo renovation.